Steam generator



April 17, 1956 J. A. oBERDlER STEAM GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledApril 21, 1954 l O Il Mm, ATTORNEYSI Mmm. f 940..

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lll/111111111 ATTORNEYS United States Patent STEAM GENERATOR John AveryOberdier, Galion, Ollio Application April 21, 1954, Serial No. 424,673

1 Claim. (Cl. 122-366) This invention relates to means for supplyingsteam to the intake manifold of internal combustion engines.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel means for sosupplying steam to the intake manfold of an internal combustion enginethat the mixture of the steam and the combustible material passingthrough the manifold will produce higher power than the simplecombustion of the combustible material.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a device ofthis character whereby the utilization of gasoline or other combustiblematerial may be decreased for the same development of power in theengine and thereby high economy may be eifected.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel deviceof the kind whereby the operator of the engine may be enabled to controlthe supply of steam to the intake manifold.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a device ofthis kind whereby the operator may be enabled to ascertain byobservation the proper tlow and pressure of condensed steam going to theintake manifold.

A fth important object of the invention is to provide novel means forthe generation of steam, which means will receive the heat necessary forsuch a generation from the engine block of an internal combustionengine, the heat being provided in the head of the block at the time ofcombustion of the charge above the piston.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel steamgenerator for this purpose wherein the generator will act as a ashboiler.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide a novelgenerator of this type wherein the delivery of liquid to the steamgenerating surface of the device will be effected through capillaryattraction.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ingeneralr of certain novel details of construction and combinations ofparts hereinafter fully de scribed, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts, and:

Fig. 1 is a View showing in general diagram and elevation the use ofthis invention in connection with an automobile block, its intakemanifold and head and also showing the relation of the invention to thedash of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken parallel to Fig. 1, throughthe axis of the heat generator shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As here shown the general construction of the front end of an automobileincluding the hood and dash 11 is illustrated in Fig. 1. Also there isshown in this figure a portion of the engine block 12 of an internalcombustion engine, which block 12 is provided with a head 13.

Furthermore the intake manifold 14 is shown in its relation to theblock.

ICC

In connection with the parts just described, there is illustrated asteam generator 1S, which is adapted to be secured on top of the head 13by means of clamps 16, or other suitable means. The steam from thisgenerator is led through a pipe 17 by means of a union 18 to a valve 19,to which it is connected by a union 20 at one side. This valve 19 isprovided with a control handle 21 to open and close the vvalve as may bedesired by the operator. The lower end of this valve has fitted thereina glass sight gage 22, which is supported by the dash by means shown at23. Also there is connected to the valve a pressure gage 24 of ordinaryconstruction. From the supporting means 23 there extends through a union25 a steam pipe 26, which is adapted to be connected to the intakemanifold 14, through a union 27.

The steam generator or ash boiler itself consists of a cylindricaljacket 28 having suitable heat insulating means, as asbestos 29 on itsexterior. This jacket 28 has a bottom 30 which, when the device is inuse, rests on top of the engine head 13. On top of the jacket 28 is ajacket head 31 secured to the jacket as indicated at 32.

This jacket head has a centrally disposed tapered outlet device 33affording means for connecting the pipe 17.

Within the jacket there is illustrated a water receptacle having acylindrical side wall 34 spaced concentrically within jacket 28 and atits bottom this receptacle is provided with a bottom 35', which rests onthe central portion of the bottom 30. The upper end of the receptacle 34is open and is spaced below the jacket head 31. Extending over the upperedge of the receptacle 34 are a series of circumferentially spaced tubes35 containing suitable woven material 36. These tubes are of invertedU-shape and the woven material 36 on the inner side of the receptacleprojects well down toward the bottom while the woven material on theouter side is spaced from the bottom 30. `The material used is of highcapillary activity so that water 37 contained in the water receptaclewill be drawn up, pass over the upper edge of the receptacle and droppedon to the base 30 in the space between the water receptacle and thejacket. It will be noted that this space is highly heated by the heatfrom the engine head.

In order to supply water to the water receptacle from time to time thereis provided a supply tube 38, which extends through the head 31 and hasat its upwardly projecting end a control valve 39 above which is a llingfunnel 40. Connected to the head is a safety valve 41, the setting ofwhich may be obtained by a device such as is shown at 42.

In the operation of the device, water held in the water receptacle willpass upwardly and over the upper edge of the receptacle, drop on the hotbottom 30 and there iiash into steam which will rise and follow thedirection of the arrows shown to the valve 19 and from there through thepipe 26 to the intake manifold. Obviously, by adjusting the valve 19 toobtain desired pressure as indicated by the gage 24 and by adjusting thesafety valve 41 an accurate control may be had of the amount andpressure of steam passing to the intake manifold.

What is claimed, is:

In a steam generator for supplying steam to an internal combustionengine, the combination of a cylindrical jacket, a top on said jacket,said top provided with an outlet for steam, a concentric cylindricalwater receptacle within said jacket and spaced at its sides from theinner face of said jacket, a plurality of inverted U-shaped tubesresting on the top edge of said water receptacle, each of said tubeshaving woven material depending from each of its ends, the wovenmaterial between the jacket Patented Apr. 17, 1956y and waterreceptacley being shorter than the Woven material Within said Waterreceptacle, and means for supplying water to said water receptacle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 34,392Chamberland Feb. 11, 1862 769,856 Curtis Sept. 13, 1904 1,282,136Steienson Oct. 22, 1918 1,374,519 Olson Apr. 12, 1921 1,603,984' Rose etal. Oct. 19, 1926 4 Abel July 17, 1928 Schwertner Oct. 2, 1928 FunalmanDec. 16, 1930 Surface Sept. 8, 1931 Seeley June 13, 1939 Crowell Oct.21, 1939 Nolan June 11, 1940 Miller June 10, 1941 Chadwick Feb. 25, 1947Hall Aug. 5, 1952

